Table of Contents: Land Report (Number 7, Spring 1979)

Page 2

Summer Energy Course Offered
The Land Institute offers graduate and undergraduate courses on renewable energy technologies, including hands-on projects with wind and solar systems.

Grant Received
The Jessie Smith Noyes Foundation has awarded The Land Institute a grant to support student tuition and stipends for the upcoming academic year.

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The Archdruid to be at The Land
David Brower, President of Friends of the Earth and a prominent conservationist, will be a guest speaker at The Land Institute’s upcoming prairie program.

Friends of The Land Meet Friends of The Earth
A joint gathering is planned for members of both organizations to meet David Brower and Amory Lovins, fostering connections within the environmental movement.

Page 4

Prairie Roots/Human Roots
A public program exploring the cultural and agricultural significance of the prairie will feature poetry, photography, and discussions with notable speakers.

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Perennial Crop Research Underway
Research has begun on developing perennial grain crops as a sustainable alternative to soil-eroding annual monocultures, involving extensive planting and cross-breeding experiments.

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The Need for a Compact Elephant
Wes Jackson uses the metaphor of a versatile “compact elephant” to argue for a shift towards multi-functional, sustainable biological systems in agriculture.

Page 7

Shelterbelt Study
Students have planted a contour woodlot to study the biomass production potential of shelterbelts and their role in preventing wind erosion.

Page 8

The Grow-Hole as a Fall Greenhouse
An experiment in extending the growing season using a passive solar pit greenhouse revealed challenges with temperature regulation and pest control.

Page 9

The Green Thumb
Gathering A gardening workshop covered topics such as root crops, herbs, and pest control, emphasizing organic methods and sharing practical knowledge among participants.

Page 10

The Status of Wind Energy at The Land
An update on the various wind energy projects at the institute, detailing the maintenance, repair, and installation of several wind generators.

Page 12

Building a Compost Pile
Instructions and biological principles for creating a successful compost pile are outlined, based on a project undertaken by students.

Page 13

Perennial Polyculture Research
Marty Bender details five specific research areas focused on developing perennial grain polycultures, including work with Eastern Gamagrass and Zea diploperennis.

Page 15

New Roots for Agriculture
Announcement of Wes Jackson’s new book, which critiques modern agriculture and proposes a sustainable alternative based on perennial polycultures.

Page 16

Towards Community Self-Sufficiency
The County Energy Planning Project is engaging citizens in Wabaunsee County to assess local energy use and develop a community-based energy plan.

Page 17

Is It a Miracle? Barry Commoner’s Alcohol Fuels Policy
Mari Peterson critiques a proposal for massive alcohol fuel production from crops, arguing it would lead to increased soil erosion and environmental degradation.

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Some Impacts of a Biomass Energy Conversion System
Bill Craig analyzes the energy efficiency and environmental impact of using biomass for fuel, concluding that it cannot sustainably meet current transportation demands.

Page 22

The Newspaper House from Start to Finish
The experimental structure built from newspaper blocks succumbed to weather damage and was ultimately dismantled and recycled.

Page 23

Indian House Has New Roof
The earth-walled shelter inspired by Native American lodges has been completed with a metal roof after weather halted the original sod roof plan.

Page 24

Barrel Composting Toilet Installed
A student project installed a composting toilet system using 55-gallon drums to demonstrate a water-conserving alternative for waste disposal.

Page 25

Visitor Policy
Information for prospective visitors to The Land Institute, emphasizing the need for advance arrangements to respect the student program schedule.

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Preserving the Tallgrass Prairie Island
Dr. Charles Grimwood argues for the establishment of a Tallgrass Prairie National Park to preserve the biological diversity of this shrinking ecosystem.

Page 29

Marked While Reading
Selected excerpts from The Land journal (1941-1954) highlight early conservationist thought on soil health, weeds, and the human relationship to the land.

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Friends of The Land
An invitation to support The Land Institute through tax-deductible contributions, which fund its educational and research initiatives.